January is a month that holds significance in various pagan traditions. Many pagans celebrate the winter solstice, which usually falls around December 21st or 22nd but can extend into the beginning of January. This is a time when the days start to grow longer again, symbolizing the return of light and the promise of new life. One widely celebrated pagan holiday in January is Imbolc, also known as Candlemas or Brigid's Day. This holiday is associated with the goddess Brigid and marks the midpoint between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. It is a time of purification and new beginnings, and is often associated with candles, fire, and the early signs of spring.
THE ADDRESS TIFFANY had given me led to the town's abandoned newspaper building, three blocks from Main Street. It was ugly--shit brown and squat with tiny windows, as if the reporters knew nothing newsworthy would be happening outside and didn't want to depress themselves by looking.
It was ugly--shit brown and squat with tiny windows, as if the reporters knew nothing newsworthy would be happening outside and didn t want to depress themselves by looking. It was ugly--shit brown and squat with tiny windows, as if the reporters knew nothing newsworthy would be happening outside and didn t want to depress themselves by looking.
It is a time of purification and new beginnings, and is often associated with candles, fire, and the early signs of spring. Another holiday that falls in January is Twelfth Night, which marks the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of the Twelfth Night celebrations leading up to Epiphany. This holiday has roots in ancient pagan traditions and is associated with revelry, feasting, and the winter carnival atmosphere.
Page 67 of Waking the Witch (Otherworld 11)
She sighed, and said, more slowly. "Druid. That ritual you sent. A pewter ingot in the hand is part of very ancient druidic sacrificial rituals. My source tells me they fell out of use centuries ago."
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"You said rituals. Multiple ones then?"
"Right. My source can't narrow it down. You're looking for a druid, though, one who still practices human sacrifice."
She made a noise that could be taken as agreement, but almost certainly wasn't. Molly had likely sacrificed people in protection rituals for her daughters.
I thanked her, hung up, and started hitting speed dial to call Adam and ask him to renew the search, narrowing it down to druidic rituals--
I stopped. I stood there, finger poised over the screen for at least a minute. Then I pocketed the phone and kept walking.
THE ADDRESS TIFFANY had given me led to the town's abandoned newspaper building, three blocks from Main Street. It was ugly--shit brown and squat with tiny windows, as if the reporters knew nothing newsworthy would be happening outside and didn't want to depress themselves by looking.
I tried the front door. Locked. I hit the buzzer, but didn't hear anything. Disconnected, I guessed. I knocked. No answer.
I walked around the side. A door opened and a slender hand gestured frantically.
"I said to be careful," Tiffany hissed as she pulled me inside. "That means not using the front door."
"There's no one around," I said. "And even if there was, they just saw me trying to get into an empty building. Typical PI work."
"Did you tell anyone you were coming here?"
The electricity must have been completely disconnected, because the only light filtered in through tiny windows.
"Go left," she said. "Then we'll head downstairs to the presses."
"Who's going to hear us up here?"
"There's something down there I want to show you."
Yeah, right. I only nodded, though, and played along. At the top of the stairs, I paused.
"It's awfully dark down there," I said. "Did you bring a flashlight?"
"There's a lantern down there."
"Huh." I peered into the darkness as I teetered on the top of the steps. Behind me, she cast a binding spell under her breath. Exactly what I expected.
"I can barely see--" I began, then wheeled and hit her with a knockback spell. Or I tried. It failed and as I launched another, she finished hers and I froze in place. I mentally struggled to get free, but the spell held and all I could do was stand there as she ran at me, hands out, and gave me a tremendous shove.
I toppled like a statue, hitting the stairs hard. Pain screamed through me, jolting me out of the spell, and my arms flew out to brace myself before I hit the concrete floor headfirst. I staggered up and wheeled. Tiffany stood at the top of the stairs, casting aloud now, trying to lock me in another binding spell.
I leaped aside and cast an energy bolt. It went off course and hit the wall beside her head with barely a pop.
I raced into the dark basement. I'm sure my battered body complained, but I didn't feel it. All I could think was: Two failed spells in a row? No way. No fucking way.
I stopped. I stood there, finger poised over the screen for at least a minute. Then I pocketed the phone and kept walking.
In some pagan traditions, January is also a time for connecting with the energy of the wolf moon. The wolf moon is the first full moon of the year and holds a special significance for many pagans. It is a time for reflection, introspection, and setting intentions for the year ahead. Overall, January holds a special place in the pagan calendar, with various holidays and traditions that celebrate the turning of the seasons, the return of light, and the promise of new beginnings. These holidays offer an opportunity for pagans to connect with nature, honor ancient traditions, and embrace the cyclical nature of life..
Reviews for "Celebrating the First Harvest: Pagan Festivals in January"
1. John - 2/5 Stars:
While the concept of "Pagan holidays in January" may sound intriguing, the execution in this book fell flat for me. The author seemed to be more focused on the historical aspects rather than providing an engaging storyline. As someone who loves fantasy novels set in the pagan world, I found myself disappointed by the lack of depth in the characters and the predictable plot. Overall, it felt like a missed opportunity to explore a fascinating and rich subject matter.
2. Sarah - 3/5 Stars:
Though I appreciate the effort to shed light on pagan holidays in January, this book failed to captivate my interest. The writing style was dry and lacked the necessary description and emotion to bring the pagan traditions to life. Additionally, the pacing felt slow, and I found myself struggling to stay engaged. While the historical research was evident, the lack of a compelling narrative made it difficult to fully appreciate the subject matter.
3. Michael - 2/5 Stars:
"Pagan holidays in January" had the potential to be a fascinating exploration of pagan traditions but fell short in its execution. The book lacked a cohesive structure, making it difficult to follow the flow of the narrative. The writing itself was also lackluster, lacking the descriptive language needed to fully transport the reader into the world of pagan celebrations. Overall, it felt like a missed opportunity to delve deep into a topic that could have been enthralling.
4. Emily - 2/5 Stars:
As someone interested in learning more about pagan holidays, I was excited to pick up this book. However, I quickly realized that the author's approach was too academic and dry for my taste. The book read more like a research paper than an engaging exploration of pagan traditions. The lack of personal anecdotes or storytelling made it difficult to connect with the subject matter. While I appreciate the effort, I cannot recommend "Pagan holidays in January" to those seeking an enjoyable and immersive reading experience.